Metallic wagon-box.



No. 709,705. Patnted sept. 23, |9022 w. .GnosvENon & w. MILNER.

METALLIC WAGON BOX. (Application med 'my 3 1902.)

5 Sheets-Sheet l.

J/d//ace gba' No. 709,705. Pafenfd sept. 23, 19.02.

w. Gnosvfnon e.. w. MIL'NEB.

METALLIC wArsoN Box. (Appuccion mea Mayra, 1902.)

(no Model.) 5 shee1s-sheelt 2.

ne Norms' PETER# co. 1mb-umu. msmnorow, n. c.

Patented Sept. 23, |902..

w. GROW-EMDR@ w. MILNER.

METALLIC wA'Gou Box.

(Application led May 3, 1902.).

5 -Sheetvs-Shee 31.

04o Model.)

i Patented sept. 23, |902. w. GnosvENon s.. w. MILNER.

5 Sheets-Sheet l4.

(Application filed May 3, 1902.)

(No Model.)

m: msnm mtas cu. mammina., wnpnmmcn. nv a METALLIC WAGON aux. (Application mea may 3, 1992.)

(nomaden 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

turen WALLACE GROSVENOR AND WILLIAM MILNER, OF CASSELTON, NORTH DAKOTA.

ll/ ETALLIC WAGONmBOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,705, dated September 23, 1902.

Application tiled May 3. 1902. Serial No. 105.719. lllo model.)

T0 all 'u1/wm, t may concern:

Be it known that we, WALLACE Gnosvnkon and WILLIAM MILNER, citizens of the United States, residing at Oasselton, in the county of Cass and State of North Dakota, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic W'agon-Boxes; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention has for its object to provide a metal wagon-box of improved construction; and to this end it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

More specifically stated, our invention has for its especial object to provide an improved metallic wagon-box which may be formed in sections at the factory, packed in close compass for shipment, and thereafter readily put together at the point of destination. The import-ance of such construction becomes evident when it is considered that completed wagonboxes are very bulky and hence that but veryfew of the same can be placed on a car for shipment, thus making the shipping rates extremely high. 1By forming the box in sections which may be packed closely to gether a large numberof boxes may be shipped on a single car, so that the maximum weight or car-load thereof is made possible and the freight rates are thereby reduced t-o a minimum. The metallic construction in itself, regardless of its knockdown or sectional feature, has important points of advantage, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, wherein like characters indicatelike parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a side elevation showing a completed Wagonwbox designed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line t2 x2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical Vsection taken on the line c3 ocof Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an end view showing the ribs and side plates of the box, the ends and the bottom plate and certain other parts being removed. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line c5 aof Fig. l0, showing secured thereto a bolster engaging bracket. Fig. Gis a rear end elevation of the rear end plate ot' the box. Fig. 7 is a detail looking from the rear of the machine, showing one of the coupling-channels removed from the ribs shown in Fig. 4.. Fig. 8 is a detail in section on the line .frs c3 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side elevation looking from the inside of the box, showing one of the side plates of the box and the ribs which are secured thereto. Fig. l() is a longitudinal section taken through the bottom plate of the box on the line .n10 :cio of Fig. 5. Fig. ll is a vertical section through the rear plate of the wagonbox on the line or fr of Fig. 6. Fig. l2 is a vertical section through the front end plate of the box on the line .1:12 x12 of Fig. Fig. 13 is a detail in section, on an enlarged scale, taken approximately on the line 0013 m13 of Fig. 6; and Fig. le is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 13 looking at the same from the rear end of the box, some` parts being broken away.

The numerals l, 2, 3, and t indicate, respectively, the side plates, the bottoni plate, the rear end plate, and the front end plate of the box, which parts are formed of thin metal, preferably ot' thin steel plates. The side plates l at their upper and lower portions extend vertically, but at their intermediate portions are given a compound curve outward, so as to form inclined outwardly-diverging surfaces above the wagon-wheels and serve to expand the upperportion of the box.

The bottom plate 2 is of channel form, and its upturned side flanges are adapted to be overlapped with and riveted to the depending or lower edges of the side plates 1, as best shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3.

The rear end plate 3 and front end plate 4tare formed by flat sheets of metal and are given the form best illustrated in Fig. 6, so that when the parts are put together, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, they lit in between the side plates and bottom plate and assistin bracing the same. The side plates are con nected to the bottom plate by approximately U-shaped ribs 5, which are riveted thereto and are preferably formed of T-iron. These ribs 5 are divided or sectioned at the center of the bottom plate 2, as indicated at 5r, but when the box is completed. are rigidly se IOO cured by means of channel-like couplingstrips 6 (shown in'detail in Figs. 7 and 8) and which when applied in workingr position einbrace the projecting flanges of said ribs and are riveted thereto, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. l

Two ot the ribs 5 are located at the extreme ends of the box, and in line therewith interiorlining-ribs 7are riveted to the side and bottom plates and to the flanges of the said end ribs. These lining-ribs are best shown in Figs. v3, 4, and 9. The lining-ribs 7 are preferably formed of angle-iron.A The end plates 3 and 4 are riveted to the adjacent anges of these lining-ribs 7. To the upper edges of the side plates 1 and end plates 3 and 4 are riveted angle-irons 8, the upper anges of which turn inward and serve to prevent grain from being blown outover the upper edge of the box. 'lhese angle-irons 8 also serve to stilten the plates to which they are applied. The end plates 3 and 4 are shown as further stiffened by transverselyextended angle-iron strips 9, (shown as riveted to the inner faces thereof,) as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. To prevent the sides of the box from bulging or spreading apart when heavily loaded with grain, a chain 10 is extended between the upper and central portions of said sides, being preferably secured at its ends, not only to said sides, but also to the stiit'ening-angles 8 and the central member of the ribs 5. This chain is formed with separable sections, one of which sections terminates in a coupling-ring 11, and the other of which is provided at its free end with a cooperating coupling-hook 12, adapted to be held in working position by a ring 13 on the said latter-noted chain-section. As is evident, the hook 12 may be readily detached from the ring 11, thus disconnectingthe chainsections and permitting the same to be thrown outward over the sides of the box, where they will be entirely out of the way when not in use. lThe rear end plate 3 is provided at 'its lower portion with a gate-opening 14, which is adapted to be normally closed by a gate 15, which is mounted to move vertically in `guide-strips 16, riveted tothe said plate 3. To the upper end of the gate 15 is riveted a stopstrip 17, preferably of angle-iron and provided in its upper face with a depression 17a.

A lock-lever 18 is pivoted at 18a to the plate 3 and is provided at one side with a notch 19. At its lower free end the lock -lever 18 is shown as provided with a projecting finger 20, by means of which it may be operated. When the gate 15 is lowered, as shown in Figs. 6,11, and 13, the lower free end of the lever 18 falls into the notch 17L of the strip 17 and securely holds the gate in its closed posit-ion. When the lever 18 is swung to one side, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6, the gate may be raised and then held in its raised position by engaging the notch 19 of said lever with one end of the strip.

21 indicates arein-holder which, as shown, is secured to the front plate 4.

22 indicates bolsterbrackets which are adapted to rest upon the holsters of the Wagon and which are riveted to the bottom plate and sides of the box, as best indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The rear bracket 22 is provided with pronged keepers 23, which are adapted to embrace the rear bolster ot' the wagon and prevent the box from sliding endwi'se.

24 indicates rubbing or wearing plates which, as shown, are secured to the bottom plate 2 in position to be engaged by the front wheels of the wagon in turning.

`At the factory the ribs 5 and 7 are riveted to the side plates 1, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 9, and the bolster-brackets 22 are riveted to the bottom plate 2, as indicated in Figs. 5 and l0; also,`the stiffening-strips 8 are riveted to the side plates 1 and end plates 3 and 4. The gatedevices are of coursev also applied to the rear plate 3. The end plates are not of course at such time riveted to the side or bottom plates, and coupling-channels 6 are of course shipped loose and applied to the ribs later. Y

The sections formedas just described may, as is evident, be Avery closely packed for the purposes of shipment.

To set up the box after it reaches its destination, it is necessary rst to slip the ends of the bottom plate 2 into the channel-like space left between the end ribs 5 and the lining-ribs 7 and then rivet the flanges of the said ribs to the ends ot the said bottom plate. The intermediate ribs 5 are also riveted to the bottom plate 2. Then the coupling-channels 6 are riveted onto the projecting flanges of the abutting ends of the sections of the ribs 5. The upper edges of the channel-like bottom plate 2 is, as already indicated, overlapped with the lower edges ot the side plates 1 and are also riveted thereto after the parts are set up, as just indicated. The end plates 3 and 4 are next placed in working position and riveted 'to the inturned flanges of the lining-ribs 7. As will be noted by reference to Fig. 4, the sections of the lining-ribs 7 at the rear end of the box are terminated short of each other to prevent them from crossing the gateopening 14. Vtfhen the parts are riveted together, as above indicated, the box is complete.

It will of course be understood that the boX above specifically described is capable of many modifications Within the scope of our Vinvention as herein set forth and claimed.

The box instead of being made with acomplete bottom plate separable from both sides of the box might be formed by extending downward the side plates, so that each would form one-half of the bottom plate. Such construction,however,would not be the full equivalent of the construction above described, for the reason that a seam would be formed at the bottom of the box which would be sub- IOO IIO

ject to Wear and would make the cleaning' of the boX with a shovel more diflicnlt and for the further reason that with this suggested modification the bottom of the box would be formed of metal having the same thickness as the sides, whereas in theconstruction illustrated in the drawings the bottom plate may be formed of sheet metal which is materially heavier, thicker, and stronger than the said side plates.

Itis of course also evident that the box might be provided with a gate in its bottom or in its side, for that matter, 'in which case it might or might not also be provided with a gate in its rear end plate. Other modifications as to details of construction may also be made within the scope of our invention.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patentot the United States, is as follows:

l. A metallic wagon-box comprisingmetale lic side plates, channel-like bottom plates, and dat end plates, in combination with sectional metallic ribs secured to said side and bottom plates and connecting the same and joint-irons connecting the abutting ends of the rib-sections, substantially as described.

2. A metallic wagon-box comprising the bent side plates l, cl1annel-shaped bottom plate 2 and flat end plates 3 and 4, in combination with the sectional ribs 5 secured to said plates l and 2, and the channel-shaped couplings G embracing' and riveted to the ilanges' of said ribs 5, at their abutting ends, substantially as described.

A metallic wagon-box comprising the side plates l, channeldike bottom plate 2 and end plates Sand 4, in combination with the ribs 5 and 7 connecting the said plates l and 2 together and said ribs 7 being riveted to said end plates, and the coupling-channels 6 ri ceted to the flanges ot said ribs 5, at their abuttinf.,Y ends, substantially as described.

4. A metallic wagon-box having` metallic side and end plates and metallic ribs and reinforcing angle-irons secured to the upper edges of the side and end plates with their flanges projecting inward over the upper end of the box and serving as Wind-guards, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we afx our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WALLACE GROSVENGR. WILLIAM MILNER. Witnesses:

A. M. DYER, H. G. SCOTT. 

